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Application of probability techniques to the objective interpretation of veterinary clinical biochemistry data
Author(s) -
Knox K. M. G.,
Reid S. W. J.,
Love S.,
Murray M.,
Gettinby G.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
veterinary record
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.261
H-Index - 99
eISSN - 2042-7670
pISSN - 0042-4900
DOI - 10.1136/vr.142.13.323
Subject(s) - biochemistry , population , medicine , interpretation (philosophy) , veterinary medicine , percentile , medical diagnosis , pathology , computer science , statistics , mathematics , environmental health , programming language
Methods for the interpretation of veterinary clinical biochemistry have not developed as rapidly as biochemical technology. However, the results of clinical biochemistry tests are only of value when they are interpreted appropriately. A retrospective study was undertaken to investigate the equine biochemistry data which had been stored in a veterinary hospital database. By applying percentile analysis and Bayesian probability methods to the clinical biochemistry and corresponding diagnosis data, a novel method for the interpretation of clinical biochemistry data has been developed. The method allows clinicians to determine whether a biochemistry value is abnormal, its degree of abnormality, and the most likely associated diagnoses. The method could be used to investigate a practicebased population and may have significant implications for the interpretation of clinical biochemistry data in veterinary medicine in the future.